Quantum magnetotransport properties of topological insulators under strain

Abstract: Recent experiments reveal that the strained bulk HgTe can be regard as a three-dimensional topological insulator (TI). Motivated by this, we explore the strain effects on the magnetotransport properties of the HgTe surface states at magnetic field. We analytically derive the zero frequency Hall and collisional conductivities, and find that the substrate induced strain associated with the surface index of carriers, can result in the well seperated surface quantum Hall plateaus and Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations. These effects can be used to generate and detect surface polarization.